Latest reports suggest that Save the Children has pulled out of an event at the Science Museum in London after coming under pressure from its supporters over the institution’s sponsors.
The charity was quoted as saying that it had decided to withdraw from an evening event called Journey of Life Lates on 11 September “following concerns from supporters about one of the museum’s sponsors, in the context of current public campaigns”.
It however, did not name the sponsor in question. However, the museum has been the subject of criticism over its sponsorship by Adani Green Energy, part of the Indian coal-mining and energy conglomerate Adani Group.
Another part of the group, Adani Defence and Aerospace, has a partnership with the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, and longstanding criticism by campaigners of the sponsorship arrangement has intensified since the beginning of the war in Gaza..
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In a statement on Instagram, Save the Children said that its planned participation in the event had been “to raise awareness of its global maternal health work, including in Gaza”. The charity has previously called on the UK government to suspend all arms exports and licences to Israel “given the clear risk they might be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law”.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the campaigner and food writer, who was also originally scheduled to appear in Wednesday’s event, said in July that he had pulled out after being made aware of the museum’s links with Adani and BP, another supporter, citing climate concerns.
“Like many of you, no doubt, I just made the assumption that a hallowed institution like this would be on the right side of history when it comes to the climate. It turns out not,” he said on Instagram.
The charity Action Against Hunger, also scheduled to take part, said it would be participating in the Lates event “providing information on severe acute malnutrition in children for a stand at the event. However, we will not be participating in any further events hosted by the Science Museum.” It added: “Our focus is on raising awareness about malnutrition, particularly in children, which is critical to our mission.”
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
